I addressed the assembly for an hour and a half on the subject of
marriage; my visitors having requested me to give them my views of
the law of God respecting marriage.

Notes

1.
On the 13th of June, Joseph and Emma Smith had journeyed north to Dixon to
see her sister. While there, Governor Ford of Illinois issued an order for
the arrest of Joseph Smith on the strength of a request by the governor of
Missouri. Joseph was taken into custody by two Missouri officers but
some of the citizens of Illinois who were upset at the process delayed the
officers in transporting Joseph Smith. One tactic was the demand that
Joseph address an assembled group on the subject of marriage.